Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (The Rising of the Shield Hero)

Is that what the king has been up to?

Malty-sama must've talked him into it.

How is the Shield Hero holding up?

He procured a demi-human girl from a slave trader.

Is that so?

That's a relief.

However...

News of Melromarc's summoning of the Four Cardinal Heroes

is making waves here as well.

We must prevent our neighbors from meddling, no matter what.

We'll continue to keep an eye on things in the capital.

I'm counting on you.

As a reward for your efforts during the Wave and for fulfilling my request,

Motoyasu-dono will receive 4,000 silvers,

and Itsuki-dono and Ren-dono will receive 3,800.

And as agreed upon, I have set aside 500 silvers for the Shield.

However...

Since it's offset by the cost of freeing his slave from her curse,

he will receive no funds this time.

I don't think that's going to fly.

You interfered in his duel, dispelled the...

slave crest, was it?

And now you refuse to pay him what he deserves?

Right?

If you'd followed the rules, Naofumi clearly would've won that duel.

Wha... I didn't lose!

You're mistaken, Itsuki-sama, Ren-sama.

It was a one-on-one duel,

and the Shield Hero was the one with monsters hidden in his cape.

That is why Father didn't declare him the victor.

Even then, you cheated by firing a magic spell at him.

Get off me!

I'm a cowardly cheat, after all!

Besides, when the Wave hit,

it was Naofumi who defended that village in the knights' stead.

I believe he must be compensated in some way.

Very well. I shall afford him the minimum agreed amount.

You have it, so begone already!

Isn't it great, Naofumi-sama?

We don't have to waste our time in this place anymore.

We're leaving, Raphtalia.

The Rising of the Shield Hero

Filo

There we go.

She now has a new slave crest.

There was no need to get another one, you know.

But I wanted it, as a symbol of your faith in me.

If you say so.

A-Anyway, Naofumi-sama...

Um, what do you think?

Slave User's Shield, huh?

What is it?

Slave User's Shield

Nothing!

Still...

I'm amazed you helped that scrawny bag of bones grow so much in such a short time.

Even if she's not a virgin, she's guaranteed to fetch you twenty gold pieces.

I am a virgin!

Thirty-five, then!

Thirty-five gold pieces, huh?

Naofumi-sama!

What's that?

A monster egg lottery.

Pay 100 silvers, and you're guaranteed at least a filolial!

You'll win a monster chick that'll double in value if you raise it well.

A filolial?

You must've seen them around.

They're the large birds that pull carriages around town.

Oh, those?

What's more, if you hit the jackpot,

you'll win a dragon worth twenty gold pieces!

What, it's like a gacha game?

What's a gacha game?

Nothing. Forget it.

Would you like to give it a shot?

Act now, and I'll give you a package deal for that and the slave crest!

You shouldn't waste money like that, Naofumi-sama.

Well, I figured it wouldn't be fair to make you fight alone all the time.

A monster should at least be some help.

I can fight by myself just fine!

If so, we can just sell it back to the slave trader.

Either way, don't loosen your purse strings any more.

Fine, I hear you.

Relatives of mine in Lute Village asked me to help you out.

Think it was someone you saved back then?

Who knows?

This book has recipes for finer medicines than you bring to me.

Use it. It's yours.

Uh, I can't read this world's language, though.

Oh, right.

The old hag at the magic shop wants to see you, too.

It's for a similar reason.

She said you helped her grandkid out in Lute Village.

You have an affinity for healing and support magic, Shield Hero.

And the young lady has light and dark magic affinity.

She is half-raccoon, after all.

I recommend she learn illusion magic and the like.

In which case...

We don't have the money to buy a magic grimoire.

It's free, as thanks for helping my grandkid.

I actually would've loved to give you a crystal ball instead.

Huh?

Don't you know?

If you use a crystal ball, you can learn one of the magics sealed in it.

First I've heard of that.

But I heard the royal court ordered a bunch of them for the heroes.

I bet they handed them out to every hero but me.

Learning magic from a grimoire is hard,

but if you keep at it, you can learn as many spells as you want!

Do your best!

Thank you.

"Thank you," huh?

I really can't read it.

I wish there was a skill that'd translate books for me.

Let's learn together, then.

What? The language and magic?

Well, yes.

But the key word there is "together."

There's more than a month until the next Wave,

so I guess there's no better plan.

Let's spend the night in Lute Village.

And tomorrow, we can go grind some levels after breakfast.

Sure!

Hey, wake up!

Raphtalia!

It's so cute, Naofumi-sama!

It must think you're its mother.

Imprinting, huh?

We should think of a good name for it.

Yeah...

I can't believe she grew so much in just two days!

My Growth Boost skill probably helped.

Mon

Monster

Monster Tam

Monster Tamer's

Monster Tamer's Shield

Right, Filo?

Monster Tamer's Shield III

You named her Filo? As in "filolial"?

Don't you think that's a bit lazy?

She seems to like it, though.

Hey, look.

Why are the knights here?

In light of his exploits during the last Wave, the Spear Hero, Motoyasu-sama,

has been appointed ruling lord of this region.

To help the rebuilding efforts, we've decided to levy a toll.

Fifty silvers to enter the village, and fifty to exit.

That's absurd!

We won't even have anything to eat tomorrow!

You wish to defy your lord's orders?

Well, duh!

The Shield Hero?